Rescuing the prisoners from Moonrise Towers is one of the most emotional and important moments in Baldur’s Gate 3. These captives include Tieflings, Harpers, and other innocents taken by the Absolute. Saving them is not just about rewards; it affects the story, your companions, and the fate of the Shadow-Cursed Lands. This guide explains every step clearly so you can rescue everyone without missing a single prisoner or triggering an unwanted massacre.
Timing matters more than most players expect. You must rescue the prisoners before fully committing to the final assault on Moonrise Towers. Once the point of no return is crossed, the dungeon becomes hostile and the prisoners will die.
Key preparation steps include:
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Reaching Moonrise Towers peacefully using a Moonlantern or protection from the curse
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Avoiding the final confrontation until the rescue is complete
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Bringing at least one strong melee fighter and one spellcaster
Saving early ensures you control the situation instead of reacting to chaos.
Finding the Prison Cells
Inside Moonrise Towers, head toward the lower level where the prison area is located. The guards here are hostile but manageable if handled carefully. You can talk your way inside, sneak, or prepare for controlled combat.
The prisoners are separated into two main groups:
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Tieflings and Ironhand Gnomes
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Captured Harpers and other Absolute enemies
Each group requires a slightly different approach, but both can be saved in one clean operation.
The Best Way to Deal With the Guards
Charging in blindly will almost always fail. Instead, remove guards quietly or isolate them. Using stealth, dialogue checks, or distraction spells makes a huge difference.
Effective tactics include:
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Luring guards into side rooms
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Using Silence to prevent alarms
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Closing doors before combat
Once the guards are down, do not open the cells yet. The rescue works best when everything is ready.
Breaking the Prisoners Out Safely
The safest escape route is through the back wall of the prison. Behind the cells, you will find weak stone walls that can be destroyed. Use blunt weapons, force spells, or explosives.
Steps to follow:
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Break the walls behind each cell group
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Talk to the prisoners and tell them to wait
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Clear the escape tunnel before moving them
This avoids running prisoners through the main tower, where they will likely die.
Escorting the Prisoners
After opening the escape path, tell the prisoners to flee. They will run toward the docks and take a boat to safety. Make sure no enemies are left alive in the tunnel or nearby rooms.
Important notes:
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Do not escort them through the main halls
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Stay close until they reach the boat
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Heal wounded prisoners if needed
If done correctly, every prisoner survives without triggering large battles.
Party Composition and Helpful Abilities
Your party setup can make the rescue smoother and safer. Characters with high Strength help break walls quickly, while high Dexterity aids stealth. Spellcasters offer strong crowd control that prevents alarms.
Helpful abilities include:
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Misty Step for repositioning
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Invisibility for scouting
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Hold Person to disable guards
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Healing Word to save prisoners
You do not need a perfect build, but flexible tools reduce risk and stress during the escape.
Before You Leave the Area
Once the prisoners escape, take a moment to loot safely and reposition your party. Rest if needed, regroup companions, and mentally prepare for the coming battles. This small pause helps prevent mistakes later and ensures your party enters the final stages confident, supplied, and fully ready.
